Getting your bike dirty is great fun , just be sure to clean it when you can !

As we all know, getting your bike dirty can be an incredibly fun thing to do. It hearkens back to our youth in many ways , to those carefree days gone by. There is nothing quite like taking off for a spin knowing that there is a very good chance you and your bike may come back home looking like something that the cat dragged in. Once home you look upon your trusty steed with a look of pride and fulfillment , also with a slight twang of horror when you see what you have done to your once pristine friend.

You see , a clean bike truly is a happy bike. As much fun as we all can have getting them dirty , our bikes like us much better when they are clean and in good running order.

As a pro mechanic and avid bike racer and rider I see both sides of this fence. On one hand I know all too well how much unencumbered fun it is to get one’s bike dirty but I also have first hand knowledge of how an unkempt bike can create all kinds of ugly issues for it’s owner.

I see many folks pull up in front of the store in a pristine vehicle only to pull their once spotless but now muddied bicycle out of the trunk and bring it in for service.

After greeting the customer and chatting for a bit we get down to the real reason they are at Dedham Bike , their bike. Oh yeah , the bike. The item in many folks lives that can take them away from the riggers of the daily grind , take you back to a time when the only thing that mattered was having fun. For many the one thing that in their mind gives them a smile and never asks for anything in return. And this is true , a bike will give it’s rider hours and miles and miles of joy until that one day arises and it is the rider’s turn to give back to the bicycle.

For most of us one of the best things about cycling is it’s simplicity , something we can do that doesn’t remind us of the daily in’s and outs. Our bikes become a way to escape without having to do much or put much thought into those few minutes or hours except to turn those pedals. We forget that over the many miles of roads and trails that our bikes are breaking down , slowly but surely. They become dirt and grime covered while giving us so much in return. It is up to us to give back to them and keep them in good running order so that they may give us many more miles of fun.

There is more to being a bike owner than just putting air in the tires and lubing the chain. That is not to say that we need to become slaves to our bikes by any means. But , I feel that it is our responsibility as bike owners to maintain our investment.

Too often do I see folks being neglectful of their bikes and when they do finally break down they are upset and blame the bike , the manufacturer or the shop they bought it from for the bike breaking down. In my 20 plus years of experience as a mechanic I would have to say that 90-95% of most bikes’ failures are as a result of their owners not properly caring for them. We spend thousands of dollars a year maintaining and gassing up our cars but when it comes time to put a few dollars into our bicycles we can’t find our wallets ? But we continue to ask our bikes to respond under all that grime and dirt , with those balding tires and worn brake pads.

Are you aware that a dirty chain can rob you of 10 % of your pedaling efficiency ?

Did you know that that little shard of metal stuck in your tire casing will eventually find it’s way through into the tube and cause you to flat ?

Did you know that those worn brake pads are becoming a safety issue and are causing your rims to wear out prematurely ?

Did you know that simply by changing out your shift and brake cables every so often how much smoother your bike can run ?

Did you know that by running your chain through a lubricated cloth every couple of rides that you will remove much of the road grime that can build up and lubricate your chain at the same time , extending the life of your drivetrain ?

We are bike mechanics and bike enthusiasts , we love bikes and we love working on them . We take pride in helping riders give back to their bikes. To us there is nothing better than taking a well ridden , worn down bike and bring bringing it back to it’s former glory.

Bike Commuting Safety Suggestions

Be sure to have an i.d. and an in case of emergency (ICE) contact info on you. This is in the event of a medical emergency, first responders etc. would be able to contact someone for you and alert them of the situation.

If you’re riding on the road’s edge, wearing headphones while riding is not suggested. You cannot hear oncoming cars and overtaking riders. Good bike lights help here too!

While riding on heavily trafficked bike paths or city streets a quality bike bell is a good idea to let pedestrians and other riders you are in their vicinity.

Always obey the rules of the road while riding. Yes, you are on a bike but many of the same rules that apply to motor vehicles apply to cyclists as well.

Getting Into Mountain Biking

Mountain biking is incredibly fun and it’s great for fitness and mental well being.

Going off road with your bike makes you feel like a kid again, it always puts a smile on your face.

Riding over roots, rocks and dirt is both challenging and rewarding and leaves you with a real sense of accomplishment when your ride is done.

In order to get in the woods there’s a few things you will need to give thought to, some are obvious and some are not.

#1 – A Reliable Mountain Or “Trail Bike” & Accessories

When you start looking into getting your first mountain bike there are a few things you’ll need to think about in regards to the bike itself.

–What’s your budget for both bike & accessories?

In today’s market you can get a good starter trail bike starting at about $400 although we suggest bumping that up a bit to the $800 to $1000 range.

Starting at $400 you’ll most likely get a mechanical disc brake equipped bike with an entry level drive-train and basic suspension fork. The Trek Marlin 4 gets the wheels turning right at $400.00. The Marlin 7 clocks in at $750 and gets an upgraded shock, drive-train & hydraulic brakes. Check out this video from Trek outlining the Marlin series. ( Thanks Trek!)

Once you get into the $800 plus range the X-Caliber series bikes take over. You’ll gain a better hydraulic disc brake, better tires, a much upgraded drive-train and a much more durable and higher performance front shock & upgraded frame. At $999.99 the X-Caliber 8 is value packed! Here’s another sweet video from Trek breaking down X-cal. (Thanks Trek!)

–On top of the bike you’ll need to budget for the several of these accessories–

– Join a local trail advocacy association like NEMBA or IMBA – Two great resources for local trail maps etc.

– A Couple More Things

Try and hook up with a local group ride that fits your fitness and skill level – don’t be afraid to jump in with a crew that is a bit above your level from time to time – it’s a great way to become a better rider!

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Over the past handful of years we’ve been seeing a shift in what folks want out of their bikes. Fun to ride, light weight and easy to use are among the key phrases heard from our customers when speaking with them regarding what they want from their next set of wheels.